Brian Koppelman

BRIAN KOPPELMAN'S ADVICE ON SCREENWRITING

1. All screenwriting books are bullshit. All. Watch movies, read screenplays, let them be your guide.

2. WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW works, but it’s limiting. Write what fascinates you, write what you can’t stop thinking about.

3. The so-called SCREENWRITING GURU is really the so-called SCREENWRITING CON-MAN. Don’t listen to him if you don’t know their movies.

4. In what I thought was the beginning of a serious heartfelt convo: I told my dad I wanted to be a writer, he looked at me and said: “You wanna write? Write!” Still the best advice.

5. Calculate less. Don’t try to game the market. Write what you wanna write and drink plenty of coffee.

6. Of the many supposed bullshit rules of screenwriting, the only one that’s legit is WRITE EVERY DAY.

7. There is a whole industry of bunco men who are trying to convince you screenwriting needs to be learned at some course. Don’t believe it.

8. The moment your screenplay leaves your hands, it becomes a commodity. So while it’s with you, treat it like a piece of ART.

9. Instead of reading screenwriting books, read about your subject. The subject that fascinates, compels and interests you.

10. With screenwriting gurus it’s all about the HOW. How do I write this? What writers should think is about the WHY. Why do I need to write this now?

11. You don’t need any expert’s permission to write your story, your way. Repeat that.